Guides Wanted
By James Castwell

This is for real, I want to hear from a full-time,
hard working, year-round honest-to-goodness guide.
Fly fishing of course. Here's the idea. I want you
to write a few paragraphs of how things are these
days with your clients. By that I mean, what actually
goes on, the good, the bad and the ugly. No names
please, but tell it like it is. What goes on, what
works, what bugs you, what bugs them, the whole
works, lay it out.

Next, create a fantasy, in other words, how you would
like it to be. The perfect guiding trip and client.
Fill in all the spaces, make it a good one.

And here is the part you can really have fun with.
Write it out or make a numbered list of exactly what
a client should do and how he should act to make it
the perfect trip, both for him and you too.

A few things come to mind. How would you feel if he
said some of these?

"Hi, I've never done this before, but I'm sure you
can make it a successful trip."

"I've fished all over hell and don't need your opinions,
just get me on the damn fish!"

"I'm sick of catching little fish, only put me on trophies!"

"You come well recommended and I plan on making you look
really good!"

Well, what do you think, can you do it? Let's see what
comes in here and I will print up the one I think best
represents most of the above. This is your chance to
try a little writing; if need be I can polish it up
a bit if you think you want me to. Remember, you may
be helping out a whole bunch of other working guides.
It can be on a trout stream, lakes, salt, wherever
you are working. Maybe you are one of those who guides
in two places each year, that's alright too.

I want to know how things are in the guiding business
these days and how you would like them to actually be.
Send them to me here at FAOL, editor@flyanglersonline.com
and if you have a picture attach it to the email.
~ James Castwell